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What is organic red wine?
Historians trace the genesis of wine back more than eight thousand years, to the Caucasus region where wine was aged in kvrevris (or qvrevris), 3500-liter amphorae buried in the ground. Traditionally, red wine has always been what we now consider organic red wine, but the "organic" label only appeared at the end of the 20th century, as a reaction to the hyper-industrialization of wine. Indeed, it was in the context of wine globalization after the Second World War that large wine estates began to industrialize the global market with bottles full of inputs and synthetic chemicals, with the aim of achieving high yields and standardized production; this was the birth of what is called conventional wine. Organic is therefore a logical response to conventional, it is more respectful of the environment and meets strict specifications that govern wine production, from harvesting to bottling, including alcoholic fermentation.
Organic red wine is therefore a red wine made from organic farming. Organic in the broad sense (red wine but also white wine, rosé wine, orange wine, sparkling wine) first met the European specifications of 1991 which regulated the principles of organic farming in the vineyard. It was only in 2012 that new European specifications were published, this time declaring a regulation for organic farming also in the cellar.
As mentioned above, red wine from organic farming has theoretically always existed, but it has only been since 2012 that it has been supervised and regulated by strict specifications in both the vineyard and the cellar. In a broad sense, organic wine must be made from certified organic grapes, as well as organic sugar, must, or alcohol used during chaptalization and fortification. Also, organic wine prohibits certain winemaking practices such as de-alcoholization, electrodialysis, or thermovinification. The European Union also mandates a sulfite level 50 mg/L lower than conventional wines, i.e., a maximum of 100 mg/L for organic red wines.
Specific winemaking process
The winemaking process for organic red wine follows the same main steps as for conventional red wine, with a more careful and respectful approach to the fruit and its environment.
In the vineyards, synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and herbicides are prohibited, which allows the soil to remain fertile and rich in microorganisms, and the vines to develop grapes more concentrated in tannins and aromas.
Harvesting is mainly done by hand to preserve the integrity of the bunches. The berries are carefully sorted, ensuring that only healthy bunches enter the tank.
Next comes maceration, a step during which the juice remains in contact with the skins; the wine then acquires its full color, tannins, and aromas (often with notes of red fruits, black fruits, spices, or undergrowth).
In organic winemaking, fermentation often occurs with indigenous yeasts, those naturally present on the grape and in the cellar environment. This preserves the full identity of the terroir, resulting in a less standardized aromatic profile.
Also, all oenological inputs are regulated; the addition of sulfites is permitted but limited, which will stabilize the wine while allowing its personality to express itself. However, any artificial correction (industrial tannin, acidifier, aromatic yeast) is often discouraged or even prohibited.
As for aging, it can take place in tanks, barrels, or amphorae, depending on the style sought by the winemaker. The goal in organic winemaking is not to mask the wine, but rather to accompany it.
Are there sulfites in organic red wine?
Yes, there are sulfites in organic red wine, though in limited quantities. In organic farming, the measured addition of sulfites is allowed to enable better wine stabilization. European legislation sets maximum thresholds for added sulfites, significantly below those for conventional farming, with a maximum addition of 100mg/L for organic red wines (versus 150mg/L in conventional). The winemaker is then free to add even less, or none at all.
Otherwise, there will always be natural traces of sulfites, partly generated naturally by the grape to protect itself from its environment, and partly released by yeasts during alcoholic fermentation.
How to choose an organic red wine?
Choosing an organic red wine can seem complex at first, so we're giving you some simple benchmarks to help you make an informed choice that suits your tastes.
A certified organic red wine always bears an official logo, like the European green leaf. This label guarantees the absence of synthetic pesticides on the grapes, but it says nothing about the winemaking process. To go further, you should look for labels like Demeter or Biodyvin, which ensure an even more demanding approach.
Next, as with all red wines, there are very different profiles ranging from fruity and light wines (Gamay, Pinot Noir, Grenache) to structured and tannic wines (Cabernet Sauvignon, Mourvèdre), as well as round and gourmet wines (Merlot, Syrah, Malbec). The grape variety and region can therefore guide your choice according to your preferences.
It should also be noted that the organic industry represents a certain philosophical approach on the part of the winemaker, which sometimes counts as much as the bottle's label. Some producers even go further than organic wine with biodynamic wine or natural wine (with low sulfite levels and stricter specifications).
Finally, it's important to know that organic red wines can evolve differently over time because they often contain fewer sulfites (they are less stable). Therefore, it is advisable for beginners to start with younger vintages, which are more accessible and expressive.
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78 products
78 products
Munjebel PA Red 2021,
Power and Refinement of Nerello Mascalese
The Munjebel PA 2021, crafted by the visionary Frank Cornelissen, is a masterful expression of the Nerello Mascalese grape variety, sourced from the prestigious Alberello Porcaria vineyard. Nestled at an altitude of 750 meters in the Contrada Feudo di Mezzo, this demanding terroir requires perfect conditions to achieve optimal ripeness. This 2021 vintage, marked by exceptional balance, reveals a wine that is both powerful and of rare elegance, illustrating the estate's expertise and natural philosophy.
A complete and harmonious red
The Munjebel PA 2021 opens with an intense ruby color, bursting with vitality. The nose releases deep and complex aromas of spices, ripe red fruits, and subtle volcanic notes. On the palate, it reveals a generous structure and silky tannins, balanced by vibrant acidity. The finish is long and persistent, offering spicy nuances and a mineral freshness, typical of basalt soils. Served between 14 and 16°C after decanting, it reveals all its aromatic breadth and finesse.
A perfect match for refined dishes
With its controlled power and natural elegance, this wine pairs perfectly with grilled red meats, rich sauce dishes, or complex Mediterranean recipes. Ideal to accompany a gourmet meal, it will enhance each mouthful with its depth and balance.
With remarkable aging potential, the Munjebel PA 2021 is a complete wine that will seduce lovers of great natural and authentic reds. A jewel of Etna not to be missed.
Munjebel MC Red 2021,
The essence of Nerello Mascalese and the volcanic terroir
The Munjebel MC 2021, by Frank Cornelissen, embodies the authenticity of Etna's basalt soils. This 100% Nerello Mascalese, grown organically and vinified with a natural approach, is a tribute to the old vines rooted in this unique terroir. With a one-month maceration and a one-year aging in vats, this cuvée expresses the power and finesse of a wine deeply rooted in its environment.
A powerful and spicy red
This 2021 vintage offers a bright and clear ruby color. On the nose, intense aromas of spices, ripe red fruits and a typical volcanic minerality harmoniously intertwine. On the palate, the wine reveals a silky structure and well-integrated tannins, supported by a balancing freshness and remarkable depth. The long and persistent finish is marked by spicy notes and a saline touch, signature of the Etna terroirs. This wine is best served between 14 and 16°C, after decanting, to release its full aromatic potential.
A companion for characterful dishes
The Munjebel MC 2021 is ideal for accompanying robust dishes such as grilled red meats, stews or even Mediterranean preparations rich in flavor. Its power and finesse also make it a wise choice for gourmet dinners where it will enhance bold pairings.
With an aging potential of several years, this wine represents a masterful interpretation of Nerello Mascalese, combining elegance and character. A must-have cuvée for lovers of natural and volcanic wines.
Magma Red 2021,
The ultimate expression of Etna
The Magma 2021, by Frank Cornelissen, is an exceptional wine, born from the old, ungrafted vines of the Barbabecchi vineyard, perched at an altitude of 950 meters on the north-northeast slopes of Etna. This pure Nerello Mascalese, cultivated organically and with absolute respect for the terroir, is produced only in years when perfect phenolic maturity is reached. With this vintage, Cornelissen offers a rich, elegant and characterful "Grand Vin", a unique reflection of the basalt soils and the cool morning exposure.
A captivating tasting
Behind its deep ruby color, the Magma 2021 displays a complex and captivating nose, blending intense spices, notes of black cherry and vibrant minerality. On the palate, it reveals impressive depth, with a velvety texture, fine tannins and a remarkable freshness that perfectly balances its power. The finish is strikingly long, marked by spicy aromas and a saline imprint, the inimitable signature of the volcanic terroirs of Etna. Serve between 14 and 16°C, after careful decanting to express all its aromatic richness.
A wine for special occasions
The Magma 2021 is an ideal companion for elaborate Mediterranean dishes, such as herb-roasted lamb, stews or fragrant grilled vegetables. Its structure and finesse also make it a partner of choice for red meats and bold gastronomic creations.
With exceptional aging potential, this wine transcends the boundaries of the Etna DOP appellation to establish itself as an icon of Nerello Mascalese and a true ode to the genius of Frank Cornelissen.
Cahors Red 2018
A Cahors, quite simply: this 100% Malbec red wine, organic and natural, is produced by Danis Bessières and Domaine de l’Antenet in the Cahors AOC. It is, strictly speaking, Danis’s father’s Cahors, from a vintage that has already matured.
Vinification
The Malbec vines grow at Domaine de l’Antenet, in the Cahors region. The harvest is cultivated and vinified without additives or sulfites. "If I have the joy today of letting you taste these vintages from the past, it is thanks to the perseverance, talent and flair of my father. He knew very well how to give time the care to preserve the beautiful years, confident that he was in the capacity of well-made wine to travel the ages."
Tasting
Despite its six years of age, this Cahors from the Domaine de l'Antenet/Danis dans la vigne remains very marked by cherry, with body and noble aromas of an evolved wine that are beginning to manifest themselves: leather, undergrowth, hay, truffle, tobacco... Everything we love in Cahors. Powerful, full-bodied, but drinkable and very supple for the appellation.
Learn more about Danis dans la vigne
Under the name Danis dans la vigne, Danis Bessières vinifies organic grapes from the family estate, Domaine de l'Antenet, which was the first organic vineyard in Cahors in the early 1980s.
Organic and natural since 1983
Danis respects the principles established in the vineyard and winery by his grandfather and then his father: making wines without additives, organic and natural, from local grape varieties while respecting the environment. It was in 1983 that his grandfather obtained the organic label Lemaire-Boucher, followed by Nature & Progrès and then the organic labels AB and Eurofeuille. Danis Bessières continues in this vein.
Malbec, but not only
Malbec reigns supreme in the Cadurcian region, but Danis also uses Cabernets, Jurançon Noir, Merlot, and recently created grape varieties, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Colombard as single-varietals. These experiments allow him to moderate the density and opacity of the main grape variety.
Vin paillé Red 2012
Marie and Vincent Tricot
Marie and Vincent Tricot's Vin de paille is undoubtedly a curiosity: it's a sweet wine made from 100% Auvergne Gamay, entirely organic and natural, made like a Vin de paille from the Jura. The harvest is dried on straw in an attic before pressing. We're not used to Gamay vinified this way, or even red wine vinified this way.
It's an experiment, but the result more than justifies the boldness. Drying on straw concentrates the sugar in the grape berries and accentuates the flavors. Only a drop remains in each berry, but what a drop! Sweet, caressing, syrupy, complex, this Vin de paille is a delight. Its color is not a pure red but an amber, and the nose is a veritable basket of slightly jammy fruits: plum, prune, raisins, strawberry. It is possible that a refermentation takes place in the bottle, which can give a sparkling attack to this wine, but it disappears quickly. On the palate, a delicious sweetness, lots of strawberry and pleasantness. Very easy to drink.
To find out more
Among the generation of Auvergne winemakers who, at the dawn of the 21st century, are resurrecting the vineyards of this beautiful volcanic province of the Massif Central in organic and natural ways, Marie and Vincent Tricot are pioneers, and their name is well known to those who have long loved natural wine. After a varied winegrowing journey that took them from Beaujolais to Chile and from Chile to Costières-de-Nîmes, they landed in Auvergne, at the foot of the Puy de Dôme, in the commune of Orcet where they took over Claude Prugnard's vineyard, a land that had not seen the slightest chemical input for around thirty years. The estate is located on a hillside, on the left bank of the Allier, in a volcanic clay-limestone area neighboring the vineyards of Châteaugay, Chanturgue and Corent. They acquired it in 2003 and, since then, have been making wines from Auvergne Gamay, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with a little Sauvignon Blanc and Muscat. These rare and sought-after wines are mainly sold directly. They have a straight and flamboyant profile, and express themselves with as much character as simplicity.
Munjebel FM Red 2020
Munjebel FM, one of Frank Cornelissen's single-plot cuvées, is an organic (Eurofeuille), biodynamic, and natural red wine with DOP Etna Rosso and IGP Terre Siciliane Nerello Mascalese appellations. It comes from the vast Feudo di Mezzo contrada, specifically its upper part, known as Sottana. Its soil is deep, and the wines it produces are of an unusual elegance, but typical of this region. The site is ventilated, but ideal ripeness is difficult to achieve in humid vintages.
Vinification
The Nerello Mascalese harvest is destemmed, lightly crushed, and then macerated for 50 days on the skins. Fermentation is carried out using indigenous yeasts. The wine is aged for 18 months in fiberglass vats and 18 months in bottles. It is not clarified but lightly filtered.
Tasting
An almost Burgundian elegance and roundness characterize this wine, even in warm vintages. A special vintage of great finesse, which adapts to the most varied dishes. Try it with all the cuisines of the South: Italian, Greek, Provençal… We would recommend a delicious cassoulet from Sillon to accompany it. Or simply a good black pig ham from Bigorre.
Learn more about Frank Cornelissen
A key and universally respected figure in natural, organic, and biodynamic wine, Belgian Frank Cornelissen, a winemaker captivated by Sicily, is a classic. This man of constant questioning lives in human and cosmic resonance with his terroir: he has demonstrated that the powerful minerality of a great volcanic soil could be enhanced by the naturalness of his wines.
An ideal terroir for plot-by-plot vinification
In Passopisciaro, Sicily, in the north of the Etna Valley, the 19 plots cover 24 hectares of basalt soils spread over numerous plots (contrade) between 600 and 900 meters above sea level on the side of the volcano. It is, says Frank Cornelissen, the "Côte de Nuits of Sicily." Frank Cornelissen's contrade are all cultivated biodynamically and vinified separately: he decides on the blends based on the quality of each.
The nobility of Nerello Mascalese
Nerello Mascalese is the dominant variety and alone makes up the greatest vintages. This traditional red grape variety from the northern Etna valley produces hypermineral wines due to its long growing cycle. Other grape varieties in the azienda: Nerello Capuccio, Minella Bianco, Minella Nera, Alicante Bouschet, Malvasia, Catarratto, Moscadella, Grecanico Dorato, Carricante…
Vino Rosso Poggio Pastene Red 2016,
Corva Gialla
Poggio Pastene is a superior red from the Corva Gialla range; it is produced only in the finest vintages and comes from the finest plot on the estate. It is dense and full-bodied, with a supple texture and well-integrated tannins, and superb accents of leather and tobacco. The nose is intense and persistent—notes of red fruits, rose, and violet. On the palate, the olfactory sensations are confirmed, supported by a beautiful structure. Poggio Pastene is dry and straightforward, well-balanced between roundness and acidity. This is a single-variety Sangiovese whose vines are planted at an altitude of 450 meters on a west-facing plot with volcanic soils. The harvest, done by hand, is destemmed and macerated for about three weeks on the skins in fiberglass vats, with daily pumping over or punching down as needed. Aging is twenty-four months in old oak barrels. Poggio Pastene is kept in bottle for two years before being marketed.
Find out more
The Azienda Corva Gialla (“yellow crow”) is a wine estate in Lazio, Italy, located on the edge of Umbria in the Alta Tuscia Viterbese. A volcanic region considered one of the most beautiful in Italy and characterized by its calanches, high tuff rock formations delimiting deep valleys carved by numerous rivers and torrents. Corva Gialla is located in Lubriano, opposite Civita di Bagnoregio. Alta Tuscia is a breeding ground for young winemaking talents dedicated to nature, who are reclaiming these historically neglected lands. Founded in 2017, the estate comprises four hectares cultivated by Beatrice Arweiler, originally from another wine-growing region, between the Rhine and the Moselle. The new owner has also planted an olive grove (Frantoio and Leccino varieties) and converted the estate into a mixed crop and livestock system. The vines were planted with the help of Gian Marco Antonuzzi of the Le Coste estate. The friable volcanic soil lends itself beautifully to viticulture and the planting of grape varieties such as Grechetto d'Umbria, Trebbiano, Vermentino, Sangiovese, and Ciliegiolo. The estate's wines are quintessentially Italian, meaning they are made primarily for enjoyment. They are straight, deep and easy to drink, expressing the strong minerality of their soils.
Rafalot Red 2013,
The Carignans of this Côtes-Catalanes are 125 years old and grow at an altitude of 300 meters in a clay-limestone valley, surrounded by wild fig trees, cedars, olive trees, apricot trees, and buzzing beehives, all protected by a pine forest. Fermentation lasts two weeks in concrete vats, with whole bunches crushed by foot, followed by aging in vats. Cherry and spice, supple and elegant tannins: full-bodied and irresistible.
A natural wine with no added sulfites.
Potion Magique Rouge 2018, Domaine de l'Octavin
A surprising and purely Jura blend of Chardonnay, Savagnin, and Poulsard, grown on white and gray marl. A little mischievous, loaded with raspberry, orange peel, and flowers, a truly exceptional wine supported by fine acidity and earthy notes. The druid Panoramix, indeed, could not have done better.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
A surprising and purely Jura blend of Chardonnay, Savagnin, and Poulsard, grown on white and gray marl. A little mischievous, loaded with raspberry, orange peel, and flowers, a truly exceptional wine supported by fine acidity and earthy notes. The druid Panoramix, indeed, could not have done better.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
Dorabella Rouge 2018, Domaine de l'Octavin
Here is a Poulsard red full of fruit, subtlety, and indulgence, typical of this wonderful Jura grape variety. The vines are grown biodynamically on gray limestone marl. The wine is obtained by carbonic maceration of the destemmed harvest, partial or total depending on the vintage, so don't be surprised by a slight sparkle. Lovely light ruby color; notes of spices, raspberry, and small red fruits.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
Here is a Poulsard red full of fruit, subtlety, and indulgence, typical of this wonderful Jura grape variety. The vines are grown biodynamically on gray limestone marl. The wine is obtained by carbonic maceration of the destemmed harvest, partial or total depending on the vintage, so don't be surprised by a slight sparkle. Lovely light ruby color; notes of spices, raspberry, and small red fruits.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
Cuvée YARD Rouge 2022
Les Souriants
With YARD 2022, Les Souriants estate offers an original and captivating interpretation of Pinot Noir in Beaujolais, a region more accustomed to Gamay expressions. This natural red wine, certified organic, is a pure artisanal product, crafted with care and patience to offer a luminous and sincere expression of the grape variety, without embellishment or artifice.
Coming from vines grown on granitic soils, Pinot Noir finds a mineral tension and vibrant freshness here, far from clichés of opulence. The winemaking remains gentle and precise: a one-month maceration to delicately extract color, aromas, and structure, followed by one year of aging in old barrels, without new wood, to preserve the finesse of the fruit.
On the nose, it's a floral and fruity explosion: crunchy cherry, candied red fruits, fresh rose. A fine and expressive aromatic profile that extends to the palate with a beautiful texture, supple but structured. The wine combines a delicate, almost silky touch with fresh and digestible energy. The finish is straight, clean, slightly saline, leaving a persistent floral sensation in the mouth.
YARD is an elegant red, perfect for aperitifs, roasted meats, pigeon with reduced jus, or even a beautiful vegetarian dish with mushrooms. It can be enjoyed now, without decanting, or aged serenely for 5 years. Served between 16 and 18°C, it reveals the full potential of Pinot Noir in a reinvented Beaujolais, between artisanal precision and free spirit.
1ER JUS Domaine Red 2024
Fond Cyprès
Neither quite red nor truly rosé: 1er Jus Domaine is a hybrid cuvée, light and natural, that breaks the mold. Produced by Fond Cyprès, it results from a very gentle pressing of Carignan and Grenache grapes, organically grown on clay-limestone soils in Languedoc, with a deliberately supple, fruity, and spontaneous style.
A natural wine without makeup
Whole bunches are placed in vats for a short and gentle maceration, without destemming. Fermentation occurs with indigenous yeasts, without the addition of sulfites or other winemaking additives. Aging for six months in stainless steel tanks preserves the freshness and juiciness of the fruit.
A light and refreshing profile
On the nose, 1er Jus Domaine captivates with its notes of crisp cherry, fresh raspberry, a touch of tart red fruit, and a hint of fresh almond. The color is clear, between ruby and raspberry. On the palate, it is delicate, smooth, with a supple, thirst-quenching texture and a touch of energy on the finish. An ultra-digestible red, almost floral, without pronounced tannins.
To be enjoyed like a spring wine
Served between 14 and 16 °C, 1er Jus perfectly accompanies raw fish, a summer barbecue, appetizer platters, or Asian cuisine with sweet and savory notes. A wine for immediate pleasure, to be drunk within 2 years, to enjoy its freshness and lightness.
Magnum Elios Red 2022,
Jean Marc Dreyer
In the heart of Alsace, Jean-Marc Dreyer, a winemaker committed to organic and biodynamic agriculture (AB, Eurofeuille), creates an exceptional vintage with his magnum Elios 2022. Made from naturally vinified Pinot Noir, this wine embodies the purity and finesse of the Alsatian terroir.
A vibrant and delicate Pinot Noir
Produced through maceration and spontaneous fermentation, this wine benefits from careful aging, which enhances the precision of Pinot Noir while respecting its fruit. Its airy structure and balance make it a delicious and accessible red, ideal for a convivial tasting.
An expressive nose and an elegant palate
The nose reveals subtle notes of cherry, raspberry and sweet spices, with a floral touch that brings freshness. On the palate, the attack is supple and fruity, with silky tannins and a beautiful mineral length.
How to pair it?
Served at 16-18°C, this magnum of Alsace AOP will perfectly accompany roast poultry, a veal fillet or a platter of fine charcuterie. Its aging potential of 5 to 10 years will allow it to gain complexity over time.
Munjebel CS Red 2021,
An immersion in an exceptional volcanic terroir
The Munjebel CS 2021 is a captivating interpretation of Nerello Mascalese, from an ungrafted vineyard located in the Zottorinoto contrada, more precisely in the single plot of Chiusa Spagnolo. Nestled in a natural lava amphitheater and planted in 1925 at an altitude of 620 meters, this exceptional vineyard produces a wine that is both deep and tannic, offering a distinct personality, reminiscent of the nobility of Nebbiolo wines.
A powerful and racy red
The dark ruby color of the Munjebel CS 2021 already announces its depth. The nose opens with intense spicy aromas, mixed with notes of ripe red fruits and a saline minerality specific to basalt soils. On the palate, this wine reveals an imposing structure with firm but elegant tannins, a beautiful liveliness and a complexity marked by a long finish on spicy and mineral nuances. Serve between 14 and 16°C after decanting to appreciate all its richness.
A companion for fine dining
Perfect for enhancing grilled or stewed red meat dishes, this wine also brilliantly accompanies Mediterranean dishes rich in flavor. Its depth and character make it an ideal choice for gourmet meals, where it will reveal all its finesse and power.
With extended aging potential, the Munjebel CS 2021 embodies the excellence of Etna wines, uniting tradition, terroir and mastery in a masterful cuvée that will seduce lovers of natural and expressive wines.
Munjebel FM Red 2021,
A rare elegance from the volcanic terroirs of Etna
The Munjebel FM 2021, 100% Nerello Mascalese, is a great natural wine from Etna, born from the contrada Feudo di Mezzo, one of the most fascinating terroirs in the region. Produced from vines grown at an altitude of 580 meters on deep basalt soils, this wine is distinguished by its rare elegance and remarkable finesse. Frank Cornelissen chose to separate the lower plots (sottana) from the upper plots (Porcaria), revealing unique characteristics for each micro-terroir.
Finesse and freshness at the rendezvous
The bright ruby color of the Munjebel FM 2021 invites discovery. The nose expresses itself delicately, revealing fresh aromas of crisp red fruits, subtle floral notes and a minerality characteristic of volcanic soils. On the palate, this wine seduces with its exceptional balance: vibrant freshness, supple tannins and a silky texture reminiscent of great Burgundy wines. The finish is persistent, carried by elegant nuances and a hint of salinity. Served between 14 and 16°C after decanting, it reveals all its complexity and refinement.
A red for fine dining
Perfect to accompany delicate red meats, such as beef fillet or duck breast, this wine will also enhance Mediterranean dishes or sophisticated recipes with complex flavors.
With extended aging potential, the Munjebel FM 2021 represents a masterful expression of Nerello Mascalese, combining finesse, freshness, and depth. A must-have cuvée for lovers of great natural reds.
Munjebel PA Red 2020
Cornelissen
Munjebel PA, a single-vineyard organic (Eurofeuille), biodynamic, and natural cuvée from Frank Cornelissen, is a Sicilian red wine in the DOP Etna Rosso/IGP Terre Siciliane Nerello Mascalese. It comes from the Feudo di Mezzo contrada, in the Porcaria area, at an altitude of 640 meters. Maturation is not facilitated by the depth of the soil in the case of a wet vintage, but what a reward upon tasting!
Vinification
The Nerello Mascalese harvest is destemmed and lightly crushed, before a sixty-day fermentation-maceration on the skins. The wine is aged for 18 months in vats and 18 months in bottles. No fining, light filtration.
Tasting
Munjebel PA is an accomplished wine, which seems to offer everything one asks of a red. It is powerful, refined, elegant and gives its best in balanced vintages like this 2020. Pair it with charcuterie and cured meats from porc noir de Bigorre or terrines from Fermiers du Bord de Sèvre.
Learn more about Frank Cornelissen
A key and universally respected figure in natural, organic and biodynamic wine, the Belgian Frank Cornelissen, a winemaker conquered by Sicily, is a classic. This man of constant questioning lives in human and cosmic resonance with his terroir: he has demonstrated that the powerful minerality of a great volcanic soil could be highlighted by the naturalness of his wines.
An ideal terroir for plot-by-plot vinification
In Passopisciaro, Sicily, in the north of the Etna valley, the 19 plots cover 24 hectares of basalt soils spread over numerous localities (contrade) between 600 and 900 meters above sea level on the side of the volcano. It is, says Frank Cornelissen, the "Night Coast of Sicily". Frank Cornelissen's contrade are all cultivated biodynamically and vinified separately: he decides on the blends based on the quality of each.
The nobility of Nerello Mascalese
Nerello Mascalese is the dominant variety and alone makes up the greatest vintages. This traditional red grape variety from the northern Etna valley produces hypermineral wines due to its long growing cycle. Other grape varieties in the azienda: Nerello Capuccio, Minella Bianco, Minella Nera, Alicante Bouschet, Malvasia, Catarratto, Moscadella, Grecanico Dorato, Carricante…
Munjebel CS Red 2020
Cornelissen
Munjebel CS is a natural single-plot red cuvée made from 100% Nerello Mascalese, biodynamic and organic (Eurofeuille label). It is produced by Frank Cornelissen in the DOP (AOP) Etna Rosso/IGP Terre Siciliane Nerello Mascalese. The grapes come from the Zottorinoto contrada and the Chiusa Spagnolo plot, towards the bottom of the valley, in a lava rock amphitheater at a relatively low altitude (620 m). This is a unique, ungrafted vineyard, planted around 1925.
Vinification
The Munjebel CS harvest is destemmed and lightly crushed. Fermentation, using a vat base and indigenous yeasts, is accompanied by a 50-day skin maceration. No fining, light filtration before bottling.
Tasting
The Chiusa Spagnolo plot produces a deep and tannic wine, a little behind the other crus of the contrada and reminiscent of the varietal typicity of Nebbiolo. The color is slightly less intense than that of the other reds of the estate and the wine is a little slower to express itself. You will pair it with meats, charcuterie and Mediterranean dishes. Also try it with a roast pigeon from Bresse (Pierre-Eudes Quintart) or from Brittany (Volailles Renault).
Learn more about Frank Cornelissen
A key and universally respected figure in natural, organic and biodynamic wine, the Belgian Frank Cornelissen, a winemaker conquered by Sicily, is a classic. This man of constant questioning lives in human and cosmic resonance with his terroir: he has demonstrated that the powerful minerality of a great volcanic soil could be highlighted by the naturalness of his wines.
An ideal terroir for plot-by-plot vinification
In Passopisciaro, Sicily, in the north of the Etna valley, the 19 plots cover 24 hectares of basalt soils spread over numerous localities (contrade) between 600 and 900 meters above sea level on the side of the volcano. It is, says Frank Cornelissen, the "Night Coast of Sicily". Frank Cornelissen's contrade are all cultivated biodynamically and vinified separately: he decides on the blends based on the quality of each.
The nobility of Nerello Mascalese
Nerello Mascalese is the dominant variety and alone makes up the greatest vintages. This traditional red grape variety from the northern Etna valley produces hypermineral wines due to its long growing cycle. Other grape varieties in the azienda: Nerello Capuccio, Minella Bianco, Minella Nera, Alicante Bouschet, Malvasia, Catarratto, Moscadella, Grecanico Dorato, Carricante…
Magnum Munjebel MC 2016
Frank Cornelissen
This pure Nerello Mascalese comes from the Contrada Monte Colla, a very steep, terraced plot with magnificent sun and wind exposure, directly opposite Mount Etna. The soil is sandy clay. The vines, planted in 1946, produce a rich, powerful, and elegant wine. It's a bit like Etna's hermitage. The harvest is destemmed and lightly crushed, then macerated for sixty days. No fining, filtration before bottling.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
